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03 December 2018

The TXAB Advent Calendar.

When the Christmas season well and truly begins.

The word advent comes from the Latin advenire/“come to [someplace].” Who’s coming to someplace? Jesus. Coming to earth. Either the first time around, around the year 7 BC, which is what we celebrate with Christmas; or the second time around, in the future, to take possession of his kingdom.

Four Sundays before Christmas is Advent Sunday—the start of the advent season, the Christmas season, and the Christian year. And if you’re counting down from today, the text below will update automatically, through the power of Javascript. Here are the number of days till (or of) Christmas:

Javascript isn’t working this Christmas!

Many Evangelicals only know about advent from commercial advent calendars, which count down from 1 December instead of the ever-changing date of Advent Sunday. Each “day” on these calendars usually contain a treat; I prefer chocolate, and I know a growing number of alcoholics others who prefer wine. Manufacturers don’t wanna keep changing the product every year, so you’re kinda stuck with 25-day advent calendars, even though some years there are 28 days in advent. Plus 28 treats!—so we’re getting shafted. But that’s what happens when we let Mammonists determine the Christmas season.

Of course, commercializing the tradition is an irritating way to remember it, ’cause the point of advent is to be the antidote for rampant materialism. We’re to focus on Jesus. Not social custom. Not gift-giving. Not all the stuff we’re expected to do every single year. Jesus. We claim he’s the reason for the season; now it’s time to take that saying seriously, instead of using it as an excuse to browbeat clerks into telling us “Merry Christmas” like we prefer.

Part of getting ready for Jesus’s second advent is to stop being this sort of argumentative, frenzied, self-focused consumers, and start behaving like he’s coming back. ’Cause he is. Maybe not for the whole world just yet; he’s still trying to save everybody. But at some point you’re gonna die. (As will I. As will everyone.) So he’s coming for you personally. Are you ready?

Luke 12.35-48 KWL

35“Be people whose toolbelts are on, whose lamps are burning.

36You should be like people waiting for their own master when he returns from weddings:

He arrives, knocks, and they can quickly unlock the door for him.

37These slaves are awesome. The returning master will find them alert.

Amen, I promise you the master will put on a towel and have them recline to eat,

and he’ll come in to serve them.

38Even at the second hour after sunrise, even at the third, he can come and find them ready.

These slaves are awesome.

39(You should know: If the homeowner knew what time the burglar came,

he’d never permit him to break into his house.)

40You be ready: The Son of Man comes at the time you don’t expect.”

41Simon Peter said, “Master, are you saying this parable for us or for everyone?”

42 Master Jesus said, “It’s to whoever’s a faithful, wise butler.

The master puts the butler over his waiters, giving them their trays at the right times.

43This slave is awesome when the master, coming to the butler, will find them doing this job.

44I tell you the truth: The master will put the butler in charge of everything.

45But when this slave says in their mind, ‘My master delays in coming,’

and might start beating the boys and girls, or eating, drinking, and getting drunk,

46that slave’s master will come on a day they don’t expect, at a time they don’t know,

and will cut them down to size, and assign them a position with the unreliable slaves.

47That slave who knew their master’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do his will: They’ll get skinned.

48The one who didn’t know, who did what deserved a smack: They’ll get skinned a little.

To everyone who’s given much, much is sought from them.

To those with much set before them, more will be asked back.”

Do you know what our master expects of you? ’Cause he’s coming when we won’t expect.

Advent passages.

Each advent season I focus on scriptures which are related to advent topics. Namely Jesus’s first coming, and his second.

NATIVITY STORIES.

Word!Jn 1.1-5Why identifying Jesus as “the word” was so profound to the first Christians.

Recognizing and embracing the light of the world.Jn 1.1-13The true light came into the world—and we get to see him.

The word became human, and explains God.Jn 1.14-18Getting a really good look at God through Jesus.

One heck of a birth announcement.Lk 1.5-25Gabriel’s announcement to the father of John the baptist.

How Mary became Jesus’s mother.Lk 1.26-38What sort of person God selected as his mother.

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth.Lk 1.39-56When Jesus’s mother and John’s mother both prophesied about his coming.

The birth of John the baptist.Lk 1.57-80And his father’s prophecy about just what sort of man he’d be.

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